Slate-picker



(No Model.)

W. IVI. JERMYN.

SLATE PICKER.

Patented Mau'.- 30, 1897'.

E AAAMAAAmA/AAA hij TH: Noam: sums coA mow-umu. wnmcron ilaria drains VALTER M. JERMYN, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SLATE-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,583, dated March 30, 1897. Application tiled November 4, 1895. Serial No. 567,788. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WALTER M. JERMYN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county 0f Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slate-Pickers; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refer ence being had to the accompanying draw'- ings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

The object of my invention is to afford a simpler and more effective device for the separation of stone and slate from coal, particularlywhere the coal is broken and graded into sizes, as is customary at anthracite collieries.

My device consist-s in the construction and combination of parts herein particularly described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side view of my device in operation, showing method of adjustment of the parts. Fig. 2 is a top view of the device. Fig. 3 shows an end view of the upper chute, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 shows the construction of the bars used in detail.

The device consists, essentially, of an upper chute l and a lower chute 2, with a space O between them. The upper chute is constructed of an gie-iron bars 8, running parallel and longitudinal to the chute and may be separated by suitable rails, as 10, resting on cross-beams, and being fastened to the said rails by means of the eyes or screw-holes 9. The angle-iron bars used consist of two flanges 11, right angles each to each and tapering throughout their length, so that the spaces between them increase downward. The second or lower chute may be plainly constructed of bars, plate, or sheet metal; having` the drop 4L opposite the lower end of the upper chute and in direct line therewith as to its lateral position. et is adjustable upward and downward by means of bolts 13, at tached to lugs to the drop 4 and sliding inthe slots 15 to the side 3 of the lower chute. The width of the space 0 is also adjustable by means of bolts l2, attached to the sides 3 and sliding into slots le to the sides of the lower chute. rlhe bottoms 2", 3', and 4 of the several parts of the lower chute are best constructed of sheet metal of any desired thickness. The pitches of the chutes used should be such that the force of gravity will impart a good rapid motion to the coal being cleaned, and the pitch may be varied for different c0l lieries to suit the requirements of the coal to be cleaned. If the upper chute is arranged at an angle of about thirty degrees, it will be found generally satisfactory. It will be noticed that the ridges of the bars of theupper chute are parallel, but the sides, on account of their tapering shape, diverge downward, so that the coal in sliding downward is continually coming to the wider parts of the spaces. This construction is required to prevent clogging and also to augment the motion of the coal and retard the motion of stone or slate.

The drop et is secured to section 3 of the lower chute by the hinge 5, which allows adjustment upward or downward toits upper edge. The slate or stony pieces are dropped ont-o an incline G, designed to allow spreading, so that pieces of good coal may be raked out in the usual way, while the useless pieces are allowed to slide down into the waste-dump.

The operation of my device is explained as follows: Coal from the breaker is run into the upper end of the upper chute in such a Way as to be spread over the whole width there of and not run so fast as to lie too thick on the bars. All dat pieces, which are generally slate, adjusting themselves tothe sides of the angle-bars 3 will press with their edges toward the openings between the bars, andas they slide or roll downward will drop between the bars as soon as they reach a point where the space is wide enough to let them through. As they fall through they strike the lower incline 6 at a point below where good coal is picked out and pass on downward with the waste. The

pieces of coal and stone or slate which are not flat will roll on downward, and it is the separation of these for which my invention isppeculiarly fitted, and the operation of separating these is performed by the adjustment of the width of the space O and the height of the up- IOO per edge of the drop 4. It is found in practice that a piece of coal, on account of its greater smoothness and lightness, will run down the chute at a more rapid rat-e than a piece of slate or stone, which has more or less gritty substance in it. movin g most rapidly Will leap across the space 0 and be conducted on downward to the receptacle for coal through the lower chute, while those pieces which have been retarded and are moving less rapidly will drop through and fall on the upperpart of the lower incline 6,Where provision is made for picking out any good pieces of coal which may have been incidentally retarded by striking other pieces, so as to fall through the space O with the slate and stone.

Of course any number of chutes wi th spaces between them may be utilized successively in the passage of the coal from the breaker to the loin or car where it is ready for market, and for larger and smaller sizes the upper chutes must be constructed with the bars S at Now the pieces which are` greater or less width according to the sizes of the coal to be cleaned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a coal-picker or cleaning apparatus, the combination with the chute having a series of angle-grate bars, the lower ends of which are slightly contracted7 of a separate chute 2 having an extensible portion workin g therein, and means for adjusting the same, of the hinged end piece having sides,the ad j Listing-bolt carried by the said sides and working in apertures in the chute 2, of the angled incline 6, all arranged substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence' of two witnesses.

"WALTER M. JERMYN.

lVitnesses:

F. H. McDoNoUG-H, S. V. TRUMBULL. 

